Of the Lone Ranger, the F89J and other puzzles

I have had a busy week, so this column will ramble a bit. Thanks to those of you who have sent me words of encouragement for my columns. A few readers have asked questions of me and I will try to attempt some answers. In a recent Sound Off an Air Force retiree took offense at a comment I made in a column regarding the F89J interceptor, in which I described it as a flying “garbage truck” (January 28, 2013). First, let me say that I like garbage trucks. I started out as a mechanical engineer and like complex mechanical things, such as steam engines, construction equipment, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ferris Wheels, cars and airplanes. Each Wednesday a garbage truck pulls up to our curb and the crew of two take control of a task using a machine that has a lot of wonderful moving parts.

The F89J I knew had a crew of two in control of a task using a machine that had a lot of moving parts. I should have described it as a flying wrecking crane! Among its many features the main center beam of its wing was a steel I-beam with which it could slice off the empennage of a Russian Bear or Bison bomber if all else failed. It also could carry conventional air-to-air missiles or an MB-1 nuclear warhead: really wicked. This weapon’s nickname was Ding Dong.

In my Air Force career, I also learned to respect the F86D and the F102A as fine interceptors, the X-15 as a prelude to humans in space, the U2 as a high-altitude reconnaissance plane, and especially the A10 in all its configurations as a ground support aircraft. I apologize for my clumsy use of words, and hope the reader forgives me.

In a personal note a reader reminisced about the Lone Ranger. In the December 31, 2012, column I quoted “From out of the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again!” The reader had been a devoted follower and so, I must admit, was I. The reader pointed out that the Lone Ranger used his pistols with their silver bullets only as a last resort. The new movie about the masked man of the west and his faithful companion, Tonto, will be playing locally later this year.

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Several commentators have a misguided belief that, somehow, I am “anti-Christian.” Looking back through my columns and blogs I can’t find a reference that would support the statement that I am against Christianity in general. What I do oppose is ignorance. When science has a better explanation for a phenomenon than one invoking spirits or magic, I choose science. Some of my beliefs include: that the universe is about 14 billion years old; it consists of space-time and energy in all its manifestations; contains billions of galaxies each with billions of stars, a few of which may bear life of some form; that we evolved from a recently discovered common ancestor 400 million years old; and that global warming exists.

Many require religion to provide guidelines for living one’s life properly. Our Constitution guaranties freedom of religion and we should protect that right among the others. In the United States we should not discriminate against any religion. A recent court ruling stated that Vegans are following religious beliefs. So, too, do Wiccans. However, no one should use religion as the basis for prejudice or violence against others with a different belief. Science and religion can coexist, each useful in understanding our lives and our Universe in a variety of ways.

Then there is a commentator who has tried to puzzle out my age. That information has been readily available on my Facebook page. Physical age is only one measure of a person’s viability. What one thinks, creates, and does for society matter much more than a birthday.

Regarding my column, I must confess conflict regarding anonymous comments added below the text. I followed comments on my LGBT column of February 4, 2013, 162 in all. They started early in the morning of the 4th and went on until the afternoon of February 11. Very few addressed the main topic of the column. One or two were downright perverse. Some people must have an awful lot of time on their hands.

In recent news, I was pleased that Governor Snyder supports extending Medicaid and accepting federal money to expand services to more than 320,000 residents of Michigan. He said in an email dated February 8, 2013, “I’m proposing a new policy for Michigan – an expansion of Medicaid to provide health insurance for those Michiganders who need it most, while saving money and improving care for all of our citizens.” I commend him and hope that state legislators support the governor in this regard.